What is Zim?

Zim is a Zsh configuration framework that bundles a plugin manager, useful modules and a wide variety of themes, without compromising on speed.

Check how Zim compares to other frameworks and plugin managers:

Table of Contents

• Installation
  • Automatic installation
  • Homebrew
  • Manual installation
    • Set up ~/.zshrc
    • Create ~/.zimrc
• Usage
  • zmodule
  • zimfw
• Settings
• Uninstalling

Installation

Installing Zim is easy. You can choose either the automatic or manual method below:

Automatic installation

This will install a predefined set of modules and a theme for you.

• With curl:

  curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/zimfw/install/master/install.zsh | zsh

• With wget:

  wget -nv -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/zimfw/install/master/install.zsh | zsh

Restart your terminal and you're done. Enjoy your Zsh IMproved! Take some time to tweak your ~/.zshrc file and to also check the available modules and themes you can add to your ~/.zimrc.

Homebrew

1. Install zimfw with brew:

   brew install --formula zimfw

2. Add the following to your ~/.zshrc:

   ZIM_HOME=~/.zim
   # Install missing modules and update ${ZIM_HOME}/init.zsh if missing or outdated.
   if [[ ! ${ZIM_HOME}/init.zsh -nt ${ZIM_CONFIG_FILE:-${ZDOTDIR:-${HOME}}/.zimrc} ]]; then
     source /path/to/zimfw.zsh init
   fi
   # Initialize modules.
   source ${ZIM_HOME}/init.zsh

   replacing /path/to/zimfw.zsh with the path where brew installed the script, which is shown in the brew formula caveats. It is usually:

   • /opt/homebrew/opt/zimfw/share/zimfw.zsh on Apple Silicon macOS,
   • /usr/local/opt/zimfw/share/zimfw.zsh on Intel macOS,
   • /home/linuxbrew/.linuxbrew/opt/zimfw/share/zimfw.zsh on Linux.

3. Create your ~/.zimrc file

4. Restart your terminal and you're done. Enjoy your Zsh IMproved!

Manual installation

1. Set Zsh as the default shell, if you haven't done so already:

   chsh -s $(which zsh)

2. Set up your ~/.zshrc file

3. Create your ~/.zimrc file

4. Restart your terminal and you're done. Enjoy your Zsh IMproved!

Set up ~/.zshrc

Add the lines below to your ~/.zshrc file, in the following order:

1. To set where the zimfw plugin manager configuration file will be located:

   ZIM_CONFIG_FILE=~/.config/zsh/zimrc

   This is optional. The value of ZIM_CONFIG_FILE can be any path your user has at least read access to. By default, the file must be at ~/.zimrc, if the ZDOTDIR environment variable is not defined. Otherwise, it must be at ${ZDOTDIR}/.zimrc.

2. To set the directory where the zimfw plugin manager will keep necessary files:

   ZIM_HOME=~/.zim

   The value of ZIM_HOME can be any directory your user has write access to. You can even set it to a cache directory like ${XDG_CACHE_HOME}/zim or ~/.cache/zim.

3. To automatically download the zimfw plugin manager if missing:

   # Download zimfw plugin manager if missing.
   if [[ ! -e ${ZIM_HOME}/zimfw.zsh ]]; then
     curl -fsSL --create-dirs -o ${ZIM_HOME}/zimfw.zsh \
         https://github.com/zimfw/zimfw/releases/latest/download/zimfw.zsh
   fi

   Or if you use wget instead of curl:

   # Download zimfw plugin manager if missing.
   if [[ ! -e ${ZIM_HOME}/zimfw.zsh ]]; then
     mkdir -p ${ZIM_HOME} && wget -nv -O ${ZIM_HOME}/zimfw.zsh \
         https://github.com/zimfw/zimfw/releases/latest/download/zimfw.zsh
   fi

   This is optional. Alternatively, you can download the zimfw.zsh script anywhere your user has write access to: just replace the occurrences of ${ZIM_HOME}/zimfw.zsh by the preferred path, like /usr/local/share/zimfw/zimfw.zsh for example. If you choose to not include this step, you should manually download the zimfw.zsh script once and keep it at the preferred path.

4. To automatically install missing modules and update the static initialization script if missing or outdated:

   # Install missing modules and update ${ZIM_HOME}/init.zsh if missing or outdated.
   if [[ ! ${ZIM_HOME}/init.zsh -nt ${ZIM_CONFIG_FILE:-${ZDOTDIR:-${HOME}}/.zimrc} ]]; then
     source ${ZIM_HOME}/zimfw.zsh init
   fi

   This step is optional, but highly recommended. If you choose to not include it, you must remember to manually run zimfw install every time you update your ~/.zimrc file. If you have chosen to keep the zimfw.zsh in a different path as mentioned in the previous step, replace ${ZIM_HOME}/zimfw.zsh by the chosen path.

5. To source the static script, that will initialize your modules:

   # Initialize modules.
   source ${ZIM_HOME}/init.zsh

Create ~/.zimrc

This file configures the zimfw plugin manager. It's referred to as ~/.zimrc in the documentation for the sake of simplicity, but the actual location of the file is defined by the following rules:

1. You can define the full path and name of the file with a ZIM_CONFIG_FILE environment variable. For example:

   ZIM_CONFIG_FILE=~/.config/zsh/zimrc

2. Or, if you defined a ZDOTDIR environment variable, then the file must be at ${ZDOTDIR}/.zimrc

3. Otherwise, it must be at at ~/.zimrc, which is it's default location.

As for the contents of the file, you can start with just:

# Fish-like syntax highlighting for Zsh.
zmodule zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting
# Fish-like autosuggestions for Zsh.
zmodule zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions

If you also want saner defaults:

#
# Modules
#

# Sets sane Zsh built-in environment options.
zmodule environment
# Applies correct bindkeys for input events.
zmodule input
# Utility aliases and functions. Adds colour to ls, grep and less.
zmodule utility

#
# Modules that must be initialized last
#

# Fish-like syntax highlighting for Zsh.
zmodule zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting
# Fish-like autosuggestions for Zsh.
zmodule zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions

If you also want one of our prompt themes:

#
# Modules
#

# Sets sane Zsh built-in environment options.
zmodule environment
# Applies correct bindkeys for input events.
zmodule input
# Utility aliases and functions. Adds colour to ls, grep and less.
zmodule utility

#
# Prompt
#

# Exposes to prompts how long the last command took to execute, used by asciiship.
zmodule duration-info
# Exposes git repository status information to prompts, used by asciiship.
zmodule git-info
# A heavily reduced, ASCII-only version of the Spaceship and Starship prompts.
zmodule asciiship

#
# Modules that must be initialized last
#

# Fish-like syntax highlighting for Zsh.
zmodule zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting
# Fish-like autosuggestions for Zsh.
zmodule zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions

If you want to use our completion module too, instead of using compinit directly:

#
# Modules
#

# Sets sane Zsh built-in environment options.
zmodule environment
# Applies correct bindkeys for input events.
zmodule input
# Utility aliases and functions. Adds colour to ls, grep and less.
zmodule utility

#
# Prompt
#

# Exposes to prompts how long the last command took to execute, used by asciiship.
zmodule duration-info
# Exposes git repository status information to prompts, used by asciiship.
zmodule git-info
# A heavily reduced, ASCII-only version of the Spaceship and Starship prompts.
zmodule asciiship

#
# Completion
#

# Additional completion definitions for Zsh.
zmodule zsh-users/zsh-completions --fpath src
# Enables and configures smart and extensive tab completion.
# completion must be sourced after all modules that add completion definitions.
zmodule completion

#
# Modules that must be initialized last
#

# Fish-like syntax highlighting for Zsh.
# zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting must be sourced after completion
zmodule zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting
# Fish-like autosuggestions for Zsh.
zmodule zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions

The completion module calls compinit for you. You should remove any compinit calls from your ~/.zshrc when you use this module. The modules will be initialized in the order they are defined, and completion must be initialized after all modules that add completion definitions, so it must come after zsh-users/zsh-completions.

Check the zmodule usage below for more examples on how to use it to define the modules you want to use.

Usage

The zimfw plugin manager installs your modules at ${ZIM_HOME}/modules and builds a static script at ${ZIM_HOME}/init.zsh that will initialize them. Your modules are defined in your ~/.zimrc file.

The ~/.zimrc file must contain zmodule calls to define the modules to be initialized. The modules will be initialized in the same order they're defined.

The ~/.zimrc file is not sourced during Zsh startup and it's only used to configure the zimfw plugin manager.

Check examples of ~/.zimrc files above.

zmodule

Below are some usage examples:

• A module from the @zimfw organization: zmodule archive
• A module from another GitHub organization: zmodule StackExchange/blackbox
• A module with a custom URL: zmodule https://gitlab.com/Spriithy/basher.git
• A module at an absolute path, that is already installed: zmodule /usr/local/share/zsh-autosuggestions
• A module with a custom fpath: zmodule zsh-users/zsh-completions --fpath src
• A module with a custom initialization file and with git submodules disabled: zmodule spaceship-prompt/spaceship-prompt --source spaceship.zsh --no-submodules or zmodule spaceship-prompt/spaceship-prompt --name spaceship --no-submodules
• A module with two custom initialization files: zmodule sindresorhus/pure --source async.zsh --source pure.zsh. Separate zmodule calls can also be used. In this equivalent example, the second call automatically discovers the second file to be sourced:

  zmodule sindresorhus/pure --source async.zsh
  zmodule sindresorhus/pure
  

• A module with a custom initialization command: zmodule skywind3000/z.lua --cmd 'eval "$(lua {}/z.lua --init zsh enhanced once)"'
• A module with an on-pull command. It can be used to create a cached initialization script: zmodule skywind3000/z.lua --on-pull 'lua z.lua --init zsh enhanced once >! init.zsh'
• A module with a big git repository: zmodule romkatv/powerlevel10k --use degit
• A module with a custom root subdirectory: zmodule ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh --root plugins/vim-interaction
• A module with multiple roots:

  zmodule sorin-ionescu/prezto --root modules/command-not-found
  zmodule sorin-ionescu/prezto --root modules/gnu-utility
  

  or

  zmodule ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh --root plugins/perl
  zmodule ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh --root plugins/vim-interaction
  

Want help with the complete zmodule usage?

Usage: zmodule <url> [-n|--name <module_name>] [-r|--root <path>] [options]

Add zmodule calls to your ~/.zimrc file to define the modules to be initialized. The initiali-
zation will be done in the same order it's defined.

  <url>                      Module absolute path or repository URL. The following are equiva-
                             lent: 'foo', 'zimfw/foo', 'https://github.com/zimfw/foo.git'.
                             If an absolute path is given, the module is considered externally
                             installed and won't be installed or updated by zimfw.
  -n, --name <module_name>   Set a custom module name. Default: the last component in <url>.
                             Slashes can be used inside <module_name> to organize the module
                             into subdirectories. The module will be installed at
                             ${ZIM_HOME}/<module_name>.
  -r, --root <path>          Relative path to the module root.

Per-module options:
  -b, --branch <branch_name>
                             Use specified branch when installing and updating the module.
                             Overrides the tag option. Default: the repository default branch.
  -t, --tag <tag_name>       Use specified tag when installing and updating the module. Over-
                             rides the branch option.
  -u, --use <tool_name>      Install and update the module using the defined tool. Default is
                             either defined using zstyle ':zim:zmodule' use '<tool_name>' or
                             set to 'auto'. The tools available are:
                             'auto' tries to auto detect the tool to be used. When installing
                             a new module, 'git' will be used if the git command is available,
                             otherwise 'degit' will be used.
                             'git' uses the git command. Local changes are preserved on up-
                             dates.
                             'degit' uses curl or wget, and currently only works with GitHub
                             URLs. Modules install faster and take less disk space. Local
                             changes are lost on updates. Git submodules are not supported.
                             'mkdir' creates an empty directory. The <url> is only used to set
                             the module name. Use the -c, --cmd option or --on-pull option to
                             execute the desired command to generate the module files.
      --no-submodules        Don't install or update git submodules.
  -z, --frozen               Don't install or update the module.

  The per-module options above are carried over multiple zmodule calls for the same module.
  Modules are uniquely identified by their name.

Per-module-root options:
      --if <test>            Will only initialize module root if specified test returns a zero
                             exit status. The test is evaluated at every new terminal startup.
      --if-command <cmd_name>
                             Will only initialize module root if specified external command is
                             available. This is evaluated at every new terminal startup.
                             Equivalent to --if '(( \${+commands[<cmd_name>]} ))'.
      --if-ostype <ostype>   Will only initialize module root if OSTYPE is equal to the given
                             expression. This is evaluated at every new terminal startup.
                             Equivalent to --if '[[ \${OSTYPE} == <ostype> ]]'.
      --on-pull <command>    Execute command after installing or updating the module. The com-
                             mand is executed in the module root directory.
  -d, --disabled             Don't initialize the module root or uninstall the module.

  The per-module-root options above are carried over multiple zmodule calls for the same mod-
  ule root.

Per-call initialization options:
  -f, --fpath <path>         Will add specified path to fpath. The path is relative to the
                             module root directory. Default: 'functions', if the subdirectory
                             exists and is non-empty.
  -a, --autoload <func_name>
                             Will autoload specified function. Default: all valid names inside
                             the functions subdirectory, if any.
  -s, --source <file_path>   Will source specified file. The path is relative to the module
                             root directory. Default: 'init.zsh', if a non-empty functions
                             subdirectory exists, else the largest of the files matching the
                             glob (init.zsh|<name>.(zsh|plugin.zsh|zsh-theme|sh)), if any. The
                             <name> in the glob is resolved to the last component of the mod-
                             ule name and the last component of the path to the module root.
  -c, --cmd <command>        Will execute specified command. Occurrences of the {} placeholder
                             in the command are substituted by the module root directory path.
                             I.e., -s 'foo.zsh' and -c 'source {}/foo.zsh' are equivalent.

  Setting any per-call initialization option above will disable the default values from the
  other per-call initialization options, so only your provided values will be used. I.e. these
  values are either all automatic or all manual in each zmodule call. To use default values
  and also provided values, use separate zmodule calls.

zimfw

The Zim plugin manager:

• Added new modules to ~/.zimrc? Run zimfw install.
• Removed modules from ~/.zimrc? Run zimfw uninstall.
• Want to update your modules to their latest revisions? Run zimfw update.
• Want to upgrade zimfw to its latest version? Run zimfw upgrade.
• For more information about the zimfw plugin manager, run zimfw --help.

Settings

Set the path of the directory used by zimfw with the ZIM_HOME environment variable:

ZIM_HOME=~/.zim

By default, the zimfw plugin manager configuration file must be at ~/.zimrc, if the ZDOTDIR environment variable is not defined. Otherwise, it must be at ${ZDOTDIR}/.zimrc. You can customize its full path and name with the ZIM_CONFIG_FILE environment variable:

ZIM_CONFIG_FILE=~/.config/zsh/zimrc

The zimfw plugin manager will detect if git is installed and fall back to work without git with its degit tool. If you want to take advantage of its degit tool regardless for faster and lighter module installations, you can set degit as the default tool with:

zstyle ':zim:zmodule' use 'degit'

By default, zimfw will check if it has a new version available every 30 days. If the zimfw.zsh file cannot be upgraded, because your user does not have write access to it, then this will be disabled. This can be manually disabled with:

zstyle ':zim' disable-version-check yes

By default, zimfw will disable color output when executed through a pipe or as a non-TTY ssh command. To force disabling color output, prefix the zimfw call with NO_COLOR=1, like:

NO_COLOR=1 zimfw install

or add the following to your .zshrc, which should also disable color output for other tools. See https://no-color.org/

export NO_COLOR=1

Uninstalling

The best way to remove Zim is to manually delete ~/.zim, ~/.zimrc, and remove the initialization lines from your ~/.zshenv, ~/.zshrc and ~/.zlogin.